A review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's internal watchdog says the government's hazardous waste tracking system remains overwhelmingly paper-based, and the small share of shipments logged digitally often contains mistakes.
That means communities, workers, and emergency planners may not be getting a clear picture about where dangerous materials are moving and how they are being handled.
Here's what to know
After examining three years of data from the EPA's E-Manifest program, the agency's internal Office of the Inspector General — or OIG — found that electronic submissions accounted for only about 0.5% of recorded hazardous waste shipments, according to Waste Dive. The review also pulled up thousands of errors within those digital entries.
The EPA created the digital E-Manifest system as an upgrade to replace an aging paper-based process and to provide end-to-end tracking of hazardous waste. But in 2024, about 99.6% of those shipments were still documented on paper, a setup that can introduce data errors and limit how easily the public can inspect the records.
According to the OIG, relying so heavily on paper has weakened trust in a program that was supposed to make hazardous waste tracking more visible and accessible. In its report, the office concluded: "More than 12 years after stating its goal to maximize the full benefits and efficiencies of electronic manifests as quickly as possible, the agency has not attained that goal."
More reliable records could help officials and the public better understand whether toxic materials are going where they are supposed to — and whether oversight is doing its job.
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More background
Federal hazardous waste shipping rules stem from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which requires materials to be tracked throughout their life cycles. For decades, paper manifests have been the backbone of that system.
But the U.S. Congress moved to digitize the process in 2012 by passing a measure that directed the EPA to build a centralized electronic platform to improve efficiency, data quality, and oversight of hazardous material shipments between facilities.
When tracking systems are incomplete or error-prone, it can become harder to hold polluters accountable, identify patterns, and protect communities from preventable risks associated with toxic waste. Better records could help regulators enforce rules, reduce avoidable errors, and give communities a clearer view into how risky materials move through the places where people live and work.
What's being done?
The EPA is reviewing feedback on a plan that would require hazardous waste generators and transporters to switch from paper manifests to an all-electronic system. According to Waste Dive, a decision on the plan could come as soon as this winter.
But the outlet has also reported on opposition across the industry. The Environmental Technology Council said a complete transition would be "complex, expensive, and must be done carefully," according to Waste Dive, indicating that upgrades could cost in the millions.
Meanwhile, according to the OIG report, the EPA has estimated "the widespread adoption of electronic manifests would create an annual cost savings of more than $50 million for state and industry users."
The watchdog summed up its recommendation by stating, "We encourage the EPA to continue its efforts to fully adopt electronic manifests."
Where can I learn more?
Incomplete hazardous waste tracking is just one part of a larger problem. If you want to read more about what can happen when oversight slips, compliance breaks down, disclosure rules loosen, or officials make disputed decisions about toxic waste, you might want to take a look at these pieces:
• Across the U.S., the EPA found widespread coal waste noncompliance, underscoring how weak oversight can leave toxic risks unaddressed.
• In Los Angeles County, residents argue toxic wildfire debris handling still lacks clear, trusted answers from the EPA.
• In the Netherlands, restrictions on steel slag drew backlash after officials eased rules under industry pressure.
Each case points to the same underlying issue: Accurate records and clear reporting shape how well the public can see what's happening and how effectively regulators can respond.
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